Breaffy knock out holders Westport to blow Mayo race wide open

Breaffy's Aidan O'Shea was in outstanding form. Photo by Matt Browne/Sportsfile

THE race for the Mayo SFC title was blown wide open on Sunday when hot favourites — and defending champions — Westport were sent crashing out of the competition by Breaffy at the quarter-final stage.

The holders had been expected to advance to the semi-finals comfortably, but the O’Shea brothers, Aidan and Conor, delivered outstanding displays to help Breaffy to upset the odds.

Breaffy, who have never won the Moclair Cup and lost senior deciders in 2013, 2015, 2018 and 2020, will now take on West Mayo neighbours, Castlebar Mitchels in the last four.

Meanwhile, Knockmore will meet Ballina Stephenites in a North Mayo derby in the second semi-final.

Last year’s beaten finalists, Ballina, proved much too good for Belmullet in yesterday’s quarter-final, running out 1-11 to 0-4 winners in Crossmolina.

Frank Irwin scored the Stephenites’ goal in the second half as the winners pulled away in the second half after leading by 0-5 to 0-2 at the interval.

A big crowd turned out in Islandeady to see if Breaffy could put it up to high-flying Westport.

But Konrad Coghill’s underdogs took the game to the champions from the opening stages and, despite not scoring for the last 20 minutes, they held on for a deserved 1-8 to 0-9 win.

A frustrated Westport finished the game with 13 men after both Fionn McDonagh and Colm Moran were shown red cards in added-time by referee Eamon McAndrew.

The holders also spurned a couple of late chances to bring the game to extra-time with Killian Kilkelly and Alan Kennedy missing frees and the aforementioned McDonagh also off target.

But Breaffy, who were inspired by another man of the match display from full-forward Aidan O’Shea, who tormented the Westport defence, were fully deserving of their surprise victory.

A goal from a penalty by Robbie Fadden in the 15th minute put them in front for the first time and they led from there to the end.

A couple of brilliant long-range points from former Footballer of the Year, Lee Keegan, in the second quarter were the pick of Westport’s first half scores, but they were cancelled out by superb efforts from Aidan O’Shea and Oisin Tunney.

Breaffy led by 1-5 to 0-6 at the interval and they were still two points up heading into the final quarter as Westport struggled to get into their stride.

Martin Connolly’s star-studded side only managed three points from frees in the entire second half — all from the boot of free-taker Killian Kilkelly.

At the other end, Breaffy kept the scoreboard ticking with crucial scores from Davitt Neary and goalkeeper Jack Livingstone who converted a 45m free with aplomb.

Neither side managed to add to their tallies in the last 20 minutes as Breaffy repelled countless Westport attacks and the champions were unable to engineer the scores they needed.

Breaffy will now take on Castlebar Mitchels in the Mayo SFC semi-final in two weeks’ time.

Mitchels needed extra-time to get the better of Ballintubber in Saturday’s quarter-final with goals from Bob Tuohy and Gavin Durcan helping them to a 2-10 to 0-13 victory.

Ballintubber’s cause wasn’t helped by a red card for Cillian O’Connor in added time at the end of normal time.

Knockmore qualified for the semi-final by virtue of a hard-fought 0-13 to 0-9 victory over Charlestown on Sunday.

The 2020 and 2021 county champions were raging hot favourites to advance and they led by 0-8 to 0-3 at half-time.

But Charlestown came roaring back in the third quarter with Paul Towey kicking a string of scores from open play and frees to close the gap to the minimum at one stage.

But Knockmore held their nerve and late points from Kevin McLoughlin and Peter Naughton proved decisive.